A series of unfortunate events hit Indian Railways on Sunday, May 17, 2026. First, a fire broke out in the Thiruvananthapuram-Hazrat Nizamuddin Rajdhani Express, and later, a relief van sent to help with repairs met with an accident in Madhya Pradesh. These incidents caused significant disruption on the Delhi-Mumbai rail route.
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What happened in the Rajdhani Express fire?
The fire started at around 5:15 AM in the B-1 AC coach of train number 12431 between Luniricha and Vikramgarh Alot stations in Ratlam district. The flames later spread to the SLR coach. Railway officials quickly acted to ensure the safety of all 68 passengers in the B-1 coach, and no injuries were reported among the passengers. The overhead electric lines were shut down immediately to prevent further risk.
Details of the relief van accident and casualties
While rushing with repair materials to assist the fire-hit train, a Carriage and Wagon (C&W) department traffic van lost control and overturned into a gorge between Shamgarh and Suwasra in Mandsaur district. This second accident left 5 railway employees seriously injured. Additionally, a medical relief van’s engine caught fire near Runkheda station during its return journey, though it was controlled in time without any casualties.
Official response and safety measures
The West Central Railway has ordered a high-level probe into the fire, with initial reports suggesting a short circuit. To assist passengers, the railway provided food and breakfast and adjusted B-1 coach passengers into other coaches. The Delhi-Mumbai route remained affected for over seven hours before services were restored. Following these events, the railway has started a nationwide safety audit of coaches and fire safety systems.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
राजधानी एक्सप्रेस में आग लगने का मुख्य कारण क्या था?
शुरुआती जांच में आग लगने का संभावित कारण शॉर्ट सर्किट बताया जा रहा है, हालांकि इसकी विस्तृत जांच जारी है।
राहत वैन दुर्घटना में कितने लोग घायल हुए?
मंदसौर जिले के शामगढ़-सुवासरा के बीच राहत वैन के खाई में पलटने से 5 रेलवे कर्मचारी गंभीर रूप से घायल हो गए।